6AM ET 05/13/2026 Newscast

Summary

---

Fox News Hourly Update – 6AM ET 05/13/2026

Host: Dave Anthony
Date: May 13, 2026
Main Theme: Latest national and international headlines: President Trump’s trip to China amid Iran tensions, US military spending, court battles over redistricting, and notable criminal indictments.

---

Overview

This newscast provides an early-morning briefing on top US and international news. Main topics include President Trump’s diplomatic mission to China during a high-stakes conflict involving Iran, evolving congressional redistricting controversies, the Pentagon’s rising budget amid ongoing military operations, and updates on a high-profile criminal indictment. The tone is rapid, fact-focused, and direct, typical of hourly radio news.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. President Trump Heads to China amidst Iran Crisis [00:02–01:09, 02:39–02:53]

• President Trump is en route to Beijing for a summit with President Xi Jinping. The background context is ongoing conflict with Iran, including a US blockade that has halted Iranian oil shipments. China stands out as Iran’s largest oil customer.
  • Donald Trump (00:10): “He’s been a friend of mine. He’s been somebody that we get along with. And I think you’re going to see that good things are going to happen.”
• Key diplomatic priorities: While the Iran situation is on the agenda, President Trump declares trade as his top focus.
  • Donald Trump (00:51): “So what is, I would say more than anything else will be trade...”
• Business delegation included: CEOs from Tesla, Apple, and other major firms are traveling with Trump, hoping for expanded business opportunities.
  • During the flight, Trump posts that he’ll ask Xi to “open up the country so those brilliant people can work their magic.”
• China’s leverage: As Ayesha Hosny in Beijing explains, China’s stake in the Strait of Hormuz reopening is significant, but Trump claims he doesn’t need Xi to mediate the Iran talks. He still plans a “very long talk with him about Iran.” (00:26–00:44)

Notable Quote

• Donald Trump (00:10): “He’s been a friend of mine... I think you’re going to see that good things are going to happen.”

---

2. Iran Conflict Update & Military Readiness [02:39–03:50]

• US war aims: The US remains determined to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, with willingness to use military force if necessary.
  • War Secretary Pete Hegseth (02:45): “The same, to prevent Iran from having a nuclear weapon. And if that has to be done kinetically and militarily, the Department of War is locked and loaded and ready to do that.”
• Increased defense budget: The Pentagon is requesting a 44% increase, up to $1.5 trillion, justified as necessary for “lethality and survivability.”
  • Hegseth (02:57): “This department remains laser focused on increasing lethality and survivability of our fighting force. From the front lines to the factory floors.”
• Costs of war: Senator Chris Coons presses for specifics, noting updated costs for Operation Epic Fury (“now... closer to 29 [billion]” at 03:25), and requests breakdowns beyond basic operational figures.
  • Chris Coons (03:14): “What’s the cost of the war we’re in in Iran?”
• The Pentagon promises Congress continued updates on war expenses.
  • Hegseth (03:50): “When it’s relevant and required, we will share it.”

Notable Quote

• Pete Hegseth (02:45): “The Department of War is locked and loaded and ready to do that.”

---

3. Congressional Redistricting & Electoral Impacts [01:10–01:41]

• Courts rule against Democrats: A series of court decisions are upholding district maps that favor Republicans.
  • Virginia’s Supreme Court throws out a map that could have let Democrats gain House seats.
  • Missouri’s Supreme Court upholds a map splitting Kansas City’s Democratic base.
    • Chris Coons (01:27): “Missouri’s eight U.S. house seats are filled by six Republicans and two Democrats. The new map splits a western district that for decades contain nearly all of Kansas City to potentially gain a 7 to 1 GOP advantage.”

---

4. Senate Race Shake-Up in Nebraska [01:41–02:00]

• Primary outcome: Cindy Burbank wins the Democratic Senate primary, overcoming suspicions she was a “Republican plant.” She is now reportedly considering withdrawal to clear the way for Independent Dan Osborne’s challenge to GOP incumbent Pete Ricketts.

---

5. Key Bridge Indictments [03:53–04:21]

• Justice Department action: Over two years after the fatal Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore, US prosecutors have indicted two Indian companies and a ship superintendent, blaming them for the accident. The companies denounce the charges as criminalizing a tragedy.

---

6. Stock Market & Sports Briefs [04:21–04:39]

• Markets: Dow Jones futures down, Nasdaq up (the opposite of the previous day’s close).
• NBA Playoffs: San Antonio defeats Minnesota 126–97, taking a 3–2 series lead.

---

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Donald Trump (00:10): “He’s been a friend of mine ... I think you’re going to see that good things are going to happen.”
• Ayesha Hosny (00:26): “China is the one that stands to benefit the most from the Strait of Hormuz reopening.”
• Pete Hegseth (02:45): “The Department of War is locked and loaded and ready to do that.”
• Chris Coons (03:14): “What’s the cost of the war we’re in in Iran?”
• Pete Hegseth (03:50): “When it’s relevant and required, we will share it.”

---

Timestamps for Major Segments

• 00:02–01:09: President Trump’s China trip/Iran conflict/trade priorities
• 01:10–01:41: Congressional redistricting rulings (Virginia, Missouri)
• 01:41–02:00: Nebraska Senate primary shake-up
• 02:39–03:50: Iran conflict and Pentagon spending hearings
• 03:53–04:21: Key Bridge criminal indictments announced
• 04:21–04:39: Stock market/ NBA playoffs updates

---

Summary

This Fox News hourly newscast delivers concise yet powerful coverage of evolving US foreign policy under President Trump, specifically focusing on his China visit amid Iran tensions; legal battles that shape US elections; escalating defense budgets; a major criminal case reborn from tragedy; and the latest market and sports snapshots for morning listeners. The tone is urgent, clear, and intent on key headlines and quotable moments rather than deep analysis.

Transcript

[Dave Anthony]

He's still in the air. I'm Dave Anthony. FOX News. President Trump on his way to China for talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

[Donald Trump]

He's been a friend of mine. He's been somebody that we get along with. And I think you're going to see that good things are going to happen.

[Dave Anthony]

And they meet in the middle of an Iran conflict that has halted Iran's oil shipping with a US Blockade. And China is Iran's biggest oil customer.

[Ayesha Hosny]

The president says that he does not need President Xi to intervene on his behalf when it comes to the Iran talks, securing an Iran deal, although he did say that he's going to have a very long talk with him about Iran as China is the one that stands to benefit the most from the Strait of Hormuz reopening.

[Dave Anthony]

That's fox's Ayesha Hosny in Beijing. The president also told reporters before leaving Iran won't be his top issue in the talks.

[Donald Trump]

So what is, I would say more than anything else will be trade and

[Dave Anthony]

after all the tariffs he imposed earlier on China. More than a dozen business leaders, including the CEOs of Tesla and Apple are on this Trump trip. And the president posted on Truth Social during the flight that he'll be asking China's leader to open up the country so those brilliant people can work their magic. Another loss in court for Democrats in the congressional redistricting controversy. Days after Virginia's Supreme Court rejected and threw out new voter approved map that could have helped Democrats flip four House seats from Republicans. Missouri Supreme Court rules against a Democratic challenge there to a new map that helps the GOP.

[Chris Coons]

Missouri's eight U.S. house seats are filled by six Republicans and two Democrats. The new map splits a western district that for decades contain nearly all of Kansas City to potentially gain a 7 to 1 GOP advantage.

[Dave Anthony]

Fox's Gerdaul Scott in Nebraska, Cindy Burbank won the Democratic primary for a Senate seat, defeating a candidate some Democrats called a Republican plant. And Burbank's reportedly considering dropping out of the race to potentially help independent Dan Osborne challenge incumbent Republican Senator Pete Ricketts. America's listening to Fox News.

[NetSuite by Oracle Announcer]

Every business is asking the same question. How do we make AI work for us? No more waiting with NetSuite by Oracle. You can put AI to work today. NetSuite is the 1 AI Cloud ERP trusted by over 43,000 businesses across almost every industry. It's the unified suite that brings your financials, inventory, commerce, HR and CRM into a single source of truth. That connected data is what makes your AI smarter, helping you make decisions that count. Get our free business guide demystifying [e-mail] AI

[Dave Anthony]

as President Trump heads to China for talks. With the Iran conflict still an issue, the war secretary says the goal remains

[Pete Hegseth]

the same, to prevent Iran from having a nuclear weapon. And if that has to be done kinetically and militarily, the Department of War is locked and loaded and ready to do that.

[Dave Anthony]

Pete Hexeth said that at a House hearing that focused on the military budget.

[Pete Hegseth]

This department remains laser focused on increasing lethality and survivability of our fighting force. From the front lines to the factory floors.

[Dave Anthony]

Hanks have faced a lot of questions in the House and then at a Senate hearing about a 44% proposed budget increase to $1.5 trillion.

[Chris Coons]

As Delaware Democratic Senator Chris Coons put

[Dave Anthony]

it, what's the cost of the war we're in in Iran?

[Chris Coons]

Acting Pentagon Comptroller Jules Hurst previously testified that number as 25 billion last month now.

[Dave Anthony]

And so now we think it's closer to 29. That's because of updated repair and replacement of equipment costs and also just general operational costs. Keep people in theater, he said.

[Chris Coons]

That doesn't include repairs to American facilities. Some senators and representatives asked for more specific breakdowns. Secretary Hegseth promised the Pentagon will keep Congress apprised of costs as Operation Epic Fury continues.

[Pete Hegseth]

When it's relevant and required, we will share it.

[Dave Anthony]

Kevin Uretsky, FOX News More than two years after a cargo ship crashed into Baltimore's Key Bridge, collapsing it into the water and killing six workers on the bridge, the United States unsealed and indicted indictment charging three defendants. U.S. attorney Kelly Hayes, two companies based in India and a superintendent for the Dali container ship are facing numerous charges. The companies say a tragic accident is being criminalized on Wall Street. Stock futures are mixed down for the Dow. Up for the Nasdaq the reverse of yesterday when The Dow gained 56 points. But the Nasdaq dropped 185, down from a record high in the NBA playoffs. A blowout. San Antonio beat Minnesota 126 to 97 to take a three two series lead. I'm Dave Anthony and this is Fo News.

[American Home Shield Announcer]

Close your eyes. Visualize your appliances and home systems protected, covered, repairs and replacements taken care of washers, dryers, AC units. Now say it with me. American Home Shield warranty, American Home Shield don't worry, be warranty for 20% off our plans.

[Dave Anthony]

Visit ahs.com listen see ahs.com contracts for coverage details including limit amounts, fees, limitations and exclusions.